Xfinity Series: Connor Zilisch wins big at Gateway

Written by Bailey Defoor

Credit: Sean Gardner

From pole to regular-season champion, Connor Zilisch dominated at the World Wide Technology Center!

As it unfolded

Zilisch, once again, led the field with Nick Sanchez beside him after setting a lap record during qualifying. Sanchez had the better launch, but the two stayed side by side through the first lap. Across the line, Zilisch cleared for the lead. William Sawalich was the fastest on track at the start and passed Sanchez on the fifth lap. Sanchez looked to be loose through the opening laps, allowing Sam Mayer and Aric Almirola through as well.

On Lap 17, Justin Allgaier almost ran into the back of Sanchez, contesting for fifth place. Allgaier was able to take the place without contact between the drivers. Kole Raz got into the wall on Lap 18 after reporting a brake issue and went to pit road.

Almirola passed Sawalich for second on Lap 27 and started closing in on Zilisch as the stage closed. On the last lap of the stage, Jordan Anderson hit the wall hard entering the first turn after losing a tyre. Zilisch won the stage. This is his ninth stage win of the season, and it tied Allgaier for the most in 2025.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

2. No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

3. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing)

4. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

5. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing)

6. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

7. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

8. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

9. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

10. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

Nick Leitz got the free pass as the drivers pitted under caution. Sawalich and Austin Hill were first off pit road as Zilisch fell two places. Carson Kvapil reported a blown motor and pitted after stopping from 11th. Sawalich and Hill led the way on Lap 44, and the outside lane had the better launch, sending Sawalich into the lead. Zilisch followed him, but Allgaier swept around the No. 88 to take second place into Turn 1. 

Allgaier went on the inside of Sawalich on Lap 47 for the lead. Zilisch tried to follow but got shuffled back, allowing Almirola through. Sawalich, Almirola and Zilisch stayed in a train through Lap 51 when Almirola and Zilisch got through. 

In the closing laps of the stage, Jeb Burton passed Harrioson Burton, who were both fighting over the last playoff position. Almirola also caught up to Allgaier, and the No. 19 got slightly loose on the inside of Allgaier, allowing Allgaier to stay ahead. Allgaier won the stage and reclaimed the record of most stage wins in 2025.

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

2. No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

3. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports)

4. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing)

5. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

6. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

7. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

8. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

9. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing)

10. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

Leitz received the free pass again as there was another round of pit stops. Zilisch and Sawalich came out ahead of Allgaier, who was also penalized for speeding off pit road, and they led the field back to green on Lap 79. Jesse Love got aggressive, challenging Sawalich for second as Zilisch got the early lead.

On Lap 110, J. Burton hit the wall at Turn 2, and a fire erupted under the hood, bringing out a caution. The driver pit under the caution, and Zilisch and ALmirola came out as they were, while Sawalich fell four places. Zilisch and Almirola stayed door-to-door through the restart lap before Almirola bumped into Brandon Jones. Zilisch went up to the lead, and Love up to second place.

Another caution came on Lap 129 as Brennen Poole got into the back of H. Burton and sent him spinning. H. Burton stayed out of the wall. On Lap 133, Sammy Smith began smoking with a brake fire and pitted.

Zilisch and Love led the way back to green on Lap 136, and they did not make it to the first corner before there was a caution. Sheldon Creed struggled to get going, checking up on Corey Day and clipping Mayer, who went straight into the wall. Ryan Sieg, Kyle Sieg, Taylor Gray, Jeremy Clements, Dean Thompson, Sanchez and Allgaier were all damaged when Mayer bounced back on track.

Zilisch and Love lined up again for the restart with Sawalich and Christian Eckes right behind them, two drivers who needed to win to get in. They went back to green with 18 laps to go, and Zilisch got ahead while Almirola, Love and Sawalich went three-wide for second. Almirola came out on top as another caution was thrown for debris on the track.

With 12 laps to go, Zilisch and Almirola headed the field. Almirola had the jump as Love made it three wide for the lead. Zilisch kept the lead while Sawalich swept around Almirola and Love to take second. 

Connor Zilisch wins his fourth race in a row, his fourteenth consecutive top-five finish and secures the regular-season championship at Gateway!

Provisional Results

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports) [FL]

2. No. 18 - William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

3. No. 16 - Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

4. No. 20 - Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

5. No. 2 - Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

6. No. 19 - Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing)

7. No. 11 - Daniel Hemric (Kaulig Racing)

8. No. 4 - Parker Retzlaff (Alpha Prime Racing)

9. No. 17 - Corey Day (Hendrick Motorsports)

10. No. 10 - Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing) 

11. No. 99 - Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports)

12. No. 21 - Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

13. No. 42 - Anthony Alfredo (Young’s Motorsports) 

14. No. 44 - Brennen Poole (Alpha Prime Racing)

15. No. 51 - Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing)

16. No. 26 - Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing) 

17. No. 54 - Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

18. No. 71 - Ryan Ellis (DGM Racing + JIM)

19. No. 45 - Lavar Scott (Alpha Prime Racing)

20. No. 70 - Thomas Annunziata (Cope Family Racing) 

21. No. 91 - Matt Mills (DGM Racing x JIM)

22. No. 25 - Harrison Burton (AM Racing) 

23. No. 31 - Blaine Perkins (Jordan Anderson Racing)

24. No. 28 - Kyle Sieg (RSS Racing)

25. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing)

26. No. 53 - Joey Gase (Joey Gase Racing)

27. No. 39 - Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)

28. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

29. No. 07 - Nick Leitz (SS-Green Light Racing)

30. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team) +2 laps

31. No. 35 - Glen Reen (Joey Gase Racing) +2 laps

32. No. 14 - Garrett Smithley (SS-Green Light Racing) +2 laps

33. No. 8 - Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports) +3 laps

34. No. 76 - Kole Raz (AM Racing) +15 laps

35. No. 41 - Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team) [DNF]

36. No. 27 - Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing) [DNF]

37. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports) [DNF]

38. No. 32 - Jordan Anderson (Jordan Anderson Racing)  [DNF]

Next week, NASCAR Xfinity heads to Bristol Motor Speedway start of the playoffs! Be there on Friday, September 12, at 18:30 ET (23:30 BST). 

Provisional Playoff Picture

1. No. 88 - Connor Zilisch: +59

2. No. 7 - Justin Allgaier: +30

3. No. 41 - Sam Mayer: +11

4. No. 2 - Jesse Love: +8

5. No. 20 - Brandon Jones: +8

6. No. 8 - Sammy Smith: +4

7. No. 48 - Nick Sanchez: +1

8. No. 54 - Taylor Gray: +0

Playoff Cut Line

1. No. 1 - Carson Kvapil: -0

2. No. 00 - Sheldon Creed: -2

3. No. 35 - Harrison Burton: -3

4. No. 21 - Austin Hill: -5